The Sherlock star has so far been fairly secretive about the CBS series, but he has finally shared his concerns and hopes for the upcoming adaptation of the Conan-Doyle canon.

Speaking to TV Line, Benedict admitted he would be “frightened” were he to be the producer of Elementary – largely because of the “the dynamic of male friendship that you’d lose.” He goes on to explain that the relationship is the “bedrock” of Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, and in changing Watson to a female “there might be sexual tension between Joan and Sherlock, which is [a different dynamic than you’d have] between the two men. So, that’s a new thing to explore.”

However, that doesn’t mean the actor is completely against the idea of a modern-day Sherlock Holmes set in America. As he has previously stated, Cumberbatch wished the production and his friend (and star of Elementary the best of luck. “I think it will be great,” he said. “It will be a different spin on it, because obviously, theirs is modern-day as well, so it needs to be different from ours, and I think the more differences, the better, to be honest.”

“I don’t see why they shouldn’t co-exist with us,” he concluded. “I don’t think they’ll steal our audience. I think people who are Holmes fans who think they do a good job of it will have a treat in watching ours and the films. So I wish them good luck!”

Benedict’s support certainly adds credibility to Elementary in the eyes of the Sherlock Holmes fanbase, although it’s the exact opposite of what producer Sue Vertue said earlier this year (she has since muted her thoughts a little, often refusing to make any comments in recent interviews).

Does Benedict’s support calm your qualms with the series, or will you always be opposed to it out of principle? Is it time these comparisons stopped for good?